National Qur’an competition highlights growing impact of Madrasa education

By providing religious education, preserving Islamic heritage, and promoting moral development based on Islamic values, madrasas play a crucial role in promoting a true understanding of the Qur’an, thereby fostering a cohesive society.

While underscoring the important role of Islamic schools in society, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said the institutions inculcate Qur’anic values in young minds, fostering the ideals of tolerance and mutual cooperation and nurturing better citizens.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the first National Qur’an Competition on December 3, 2025, at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi, the governor urged Muslims to support the advancement of madrasa education, saying that by promoting the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions, madrasas play an important role in providing much-needed religious guidance to young people.

“In the war against terror, there is a misconception that terrorism has something to do with religion or with madrasas. However, I believe that the cure for terror is the Qur’an, because if people understand their religion, they will know that as Muslims, saving the life of one person is like saving humanity, and vice versa,” he said.

Ahmed Abdullahi, who also chairs the Council of Governors, stressed that the important role of madrasas in the community motivated the county government’s decision to integrate the institutions into the county’s Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) structure. “This has allowed us to recruit madrasa teachers, and we are now supporting over 200 teachers who are on the county payroll,” he said.

“It has been a somewhat contentious move, but we have been able to justify it, as at the end of the day, the gains and benefits to society are immense,” the governor, who was the chief guest at the event, added.

“For us, the Qur’an is everything. It gives us a moral compass in society and makes us better citizens of this country,” he stressed.

He applauded the efforts of madrasa teachers, saying that through their noble work, the country has witnessed a phenomenal increase in the number of Qur’an memorizers. “In many mosques during Ramadan, we are now even having taraweeh prayers led by children as young as 13 years,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Sheikh Muhammad Osman, the founder and chairman of the Islamic University of Kenya (IUK), lauded the Saudi Arabian government for its assistance to Kenyans, saying that its scholarship programmes have benefitted thousands across the country.

“More than 1,000 Kenyans have graduated from Saudi Arabia and are playing an important role in promoting Islamic knowledge around the country,” he said.

In his remarks, the acting Chief Kadhi, Sheikh Sukyan Hassan Omar, urged Muslims to uphold the Qur’an in their daily lives, stating that this promotes good moral values which leave a positive imprint on humanity. “While literacy and understanding of the Qur’an are imperative, it is even more important that its teachings are implemented in our daily lives,” he said.

Jamia Mosque Committee chairman Sheikh Muhammad Osman Warfa stressed the need to ensure that young children are taught Qur’anic ideals at an early age. “The Qur’an is a mercy to the believers. Let us take our children to learn the Qur’an before they go to school. It will provide them with the foundation for becoming better people,” he said.

The Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khalid al Zahran, pledged that the embassy would continue supporting initiatives that instill the Qur’an in the hearts of young people.’ The memorization of the Holy Qur’an builds a powerful lifelong connection with Allah, fostering a deep understanding of His message,” he said.

The three-day event celebrated excellence in Qur’anic memorisation and brought together exceptional young memorizers from across the country, competing in four levels of memorisation: 5 Juzuu, 15 Juzuu, 20 Juzuu, and 30 Juzuu.

Overall, the competition attracted 337 participants from across the country. Twenty-eight contestants made it to the final event, which was held at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi.

The ambassador presenting a prize to Muhammad Noor Abdulkarim from Markaz Musa in Isiolo

Abdulhadi Shueb from Al Bushra Madrasa in Nairobi emerged the overall winner, taking home prize money of 20,000 Saudi Riyals (Sh700,000).

In second place was Abdulrahman Musa from Mombasa, who took home SR 15,000 (Sh 525,000), while Musa Abdullahi from Al Anwar Madrasa in Nairobi came in third place, receiving SR10,000 (Sh350,000).

In the 20 Juzuu category, Hamza Muhammad Madobe from Muadh bin Jabal took first place, followed by Khalid Abdullahi Abdi from Al Fawzan Madrasa in Garissa, with Abdullahi Isaack Alio from Nur Huda Madrasa in Mandera taking third place. They received cash prizes of SR15,000 (Sh525,000), SR10,000 (Sh350,000), and 5,000 (Sh175,000) respectively.

In the 15 Juzuu category, Hamzah Hilowle Ali from Misbah Madrasa in Nairobi took first place, earning SR 10,000 (Sh350,000), followed by Khalid Bishar from Al Ikhlas Madrasa in Mombasa with SR 5,000 (Sh175,000). Ugas Issack Muhammad from Asidiq in Mandera came in third, receiving SR 2,500 (Sh87,500).

Yazid Mukhtar Maalim from Al Hilal Madrasa in Mandera was the overall winner in the 5 Juzuu category. Salim Said from Madrasatul Nur in Mombasa came second, with Muhammad Noor Abdul Karim from Markaz Musa in Isiolo taking third place. The winners received SR 5,000 (Sh175,000), SR 2,500 (Sh87,500), and SR 1,500 (Sh52,500) respectively.

The competition was organised by the Religious Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in partnership with Jamia Mosque and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM).

Present at the event were Hussein Weytan, MP for Mandera East; Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Chairman Ugas Sheikh; former Deputy Chief Kadhi Sheikh Rashid Ali Omar; and Mombasa County Executive Member for Education Dr. Mbwarali Kame.